Direct reaction rotary translation engine



June 15, 1954 L. D. BURCH DIRECT REACTION ROTARY TRANSLATION ENGINE Original Filed July 19, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 48M; 23

June 15, 1954 L. D. BURCH 2,680,950

DIRECT REACTION ROTARY TRANSLATION ENGINE Original Filed July 19, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 15, 954 tb. BURCH 2,680,

DIRECT REACTION ROTARY TRANSLATION ENGINE Original Filed July 19, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 15, 1954 D. BURCH 2,680,950

DIRECT REACTION ROTARY- TRANSLATION ENGINE original Find July 19, 1945 s Shet-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Zen/i5 Z. fizz c3.

June 1954 L. D. BURCH 2,680,950

DIRECT REACTION ROTARY TRANSLATION ENGINE Original Filed July 19, 1945 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. 1614/25 .2. Z a?- Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES ENT OFFICE DIRECT REACTION R ENG TRY TRANSLATION N Lewis D. Burch, Detroit, Mich.

Continuation of application Serial No.

19 Claims.

The invention relates to direct reaction engines to be used for any desired purpose and particularly to direct reaction rotary internal combustion engines provided with wings and capable of flight as a new type rotary wing aircraft.

Heretofore engines for producing rotary motion have been employed primarily for the development of power with the application of the power to obtain translatory motion being the function of some other device, as for example, the propeller in aircraft; the propeller in boats, the transmission, differential, and wheels in automobiles, and the wheels and driving linkage in locomotives.

The engine here described develops and applies power by direct reaction to do work involving either rotary motion or rotary and translatory motion and has therefore many novel applications either as a stationary engine merely for producing power or as a mobile unit for carrying loads, whether on land, on water or in air.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the engine is provided with wings for lifting it in the air and with this function performed the engine thereafter is capable of independent flight and of performing all known aerial maneuvers, this being a result of the direct reaction forces inherent in the operation of the engine.

Some of the objects of the invention are to provide an improved, simplified and efficient direct reaction engine of general application; to improve the efiiciency and simplify the problem of developing and applying power; to provide a new and direct method of producing translatory motion; to apply the principle of direct reaction to slower, safer and more useful speeds; to provide an engine which by a direct application of its own power is capable of sustained flight; to provide an aircraft for any use but particularly for individual or family use, which can be constructed cheaply, will operate safely and efficiently, will be easy to operate and to learn operate, can be operated without the necessity for airports and ground and flight control personnel and by the utilization of which any portion of the earths surface may be made directly accessible.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of an aircraft powered. by airwheel type of direct reaction rotary internal combustion engine constructed according to one form of the present invention;

2 is a View partly in elevation and partly cross section taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a smaller scale of the airwheel shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on a larger scale through a forward portion of one of the direct reaction devices or engines employed in the airwheel shown by the preceding figures and taken substantially along the line i-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 5-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, partly cross sectional, view of flight control means at the rear end of the cabin;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, partly in cross section and with a portion thereof broken away, of one of the rotating wings and the reaction device mounted on its outer end;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view having a portion thereof in cross-section of the airwheel structure shown by the preceding Figs. 1, 2 and 3;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view on a larger scale of a portion of the operating mechanism employed in the airwheel, taken substantially along the line i@-it of Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view on a larger scale of another portion of the operating mechanism and the bearing for the airwheel, taken substantially along line HH of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of the frame structure employed in the airwheel with the upper covering therefor removed, and of a portion of one of the wings and reaction devices embraced therein. A portion of the structure at the center is taken on a plane somewhat below the remainder thereof in order to show the means for securing the inner end of one of the wing spars;

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view on a larger scale taken substantially along line i3--I3 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line Itld of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line 55-55 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along line Ii -i6 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 17 is a graph illustrating variations in the performance of one of the direct reaction devices during one revolution thereof and under different operating conditions; and

Fig. 18 is a graph showing possible variations in wing performance under diiferent conditions of operation.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is illustrated, the fabricated structure or body of a direct reaction rotary translation internal comoustion engine or airwheel ll. Beneath the engine I l is a cabin It which in the illustrated embodiment of the invention rotatably supports the engine 1 I upon a bearing or engine support 5']. In flight the cabin is suspended in the slip steam beneath the engine II.

The engine or body ll comprises a centrally disposed disc or casing l2 of circular airfoil formation from which projects radially disposed reaction device supports or wings, I3, it, if and I6. Also comprising the engine or body H are direct reaction devices or ram-jet engines i8, i9,

2G and 2| supported respectively by the wings or supports 13, l4, l5 and 16. From the combustionexpansion chambers of these engines the working fluid for rotating the body or engine H on its axis of rotation within bearing Bl is discharged in tangential relation thereto.

The cabin Hi when on the ground merely supports the light fabricated structure of the engine 1 i, and during flight is merely suspended beneath the engine H. ject to enormous stress and shock forces to which the fuselage portions of other types of aircraft are subject. Also unlike an automobile body, the cabin it does not encounter the continuous shock and stress forces that are involved in travel upon a concrete highway at speeds approaching 100 miles an hour and therefore does not simul taneously have to withstand the stress and strain forces involved in braking and power transmission which afiect an automobile body during such operation. Since the principal function of the cabin H3 is carrying its own weight and passengers, freight or fuel, it is more analogous to a market basket which under comparable conditions is capable of carrying many times its own weight.

The cabin It, therefore, is constructed accord ing to the simple tube and sheet construction shown by Fig. 2 and without the usual number of reinforcing ribs, struts, braces, angles, frames, channels, etc., normally emloyed in automobile body and aircraft fuselage designs.

Since the weight of the aircraft is very low, the operation of the engine practically without vibration, and the craft lands easily at low or zero landing speed, the landing gear may also be made simple and inexpensive. To meet such end there is employed a light, flexible, metallic tube 22 fastened to the cabin along an intermediate portion thereof and having rotatably mounted at opposite ends thereof large low pressure pneumatic wheels 23 and 2t.

Universally mounted for rotation in an impression formed at the rear of the cabin It is a third such wheel 25, the three wheels and the flexible shaft 22 being capable of landing the relatively light craft under normal operating conditions.

Seats 25, wide enough to seat three average sized persons and spaced one in front of the other in the cabin, occupy practically the whole interior of the cabin except for space provided at the front for controls, at the rear for baggage, and beneath the floor where a fuel tank 183 is located.

The bottom of the cabin is constructed in such manner as to float in water so that the craft, if so desired, may take off and land in such medium. It is unnecessary in such circumstances to retract the landing wheels or gear.

The shape of the cabin it is such that the front of the cabin will tend to lift in the slip stream to a greater extent than the rear, thereby tending to balance the counter-rotational effect of the drag on the cabin.

Hence the cabin it is not sub- At the front the cabin H) is provided with ailerons 303 and 30 mounted for angular movement on the tube 22 between the wheels 26 and 23, respectively, and adjacent depressed portions of the cabin ID.

The rear of the cabin I0 is provided with a horizontal control member 295 (Fig. '7) supported on a shaft 296 having a worm wheel 291 meshing with a worm 298 on the end of a shaft 299 rotatably mounted in the adjacent cabin wall. Shaft 299 at its opposite end carries gear 3% meshing with gear 30! secured on the rear end of actuating rod 302. When the rod 382 is rotated in opposite directions by the aircraft operator control member 295 is moved upwardly or downwardly in the aircraft slip stream.

The control member 295 has a V-shaped cutout portion (not shown) midway between the ends thereof to receive and to permit the angular movement of vertically disposed control member 293 which in turn is supported on a U-shaped rod 29!, the middle portion of which is positioned in spaced relation along the front edge of the member 290. Such midportion of the rod 29! is rotatably mounted within a tubular member 289 at an intermediate portion thereof on the rearwardly disposed end of a shaft 293 rotatably mounted in a bearing 293a secured at its upper end in a vertically disposed stabilizing fin portion of the cabin Iii. The forward end of the shaft 293 carries a worm wheel 2% meshing with a control shaft operated worm 294a. When the operator operates the control shaft to rotate the worm 2940, in opposite directions the control member 2530 will be moved into different angular positions in either direction from its normal vertical position and about the axis of rotation of the shaft 293. The control member 2% also may be moved into various angular positions upon the axis of the midportion of the rod 29! by the movement of arm 292a, having one end thereof secured to the rod 28! and the opposite end pivotally fastened to control rod 292.

Referring to Figs. 10 and 11, the bearing member 81 will be seen to be secured by screws 88 over an opening formed in a supporting ring portion of the cabin H). Through bearing member 81 and into this opening projects bearing member 84 containing the axis of rotation of the engine I! and the disc l2 and upon the upper flange end of which the disc or casing if of the engine H is rigidly secured. Roller bearings 85 and B5 are provided for rotatably supporting the bearing members 84 and 87 relative to one another. Thrust ring 9| secured by screws 99 to the lower end of bearing member 84 engages roller thrust bearing 92, which in turn engages the lower end of bearing member 8'! to apply the axial thrust of the engine for supporting the cabin ill in flight.

Annular bracket lllli having an offset bearing portion I01 formed at one side thereof is rigidly secured to the lower side of the previously mentioned supporting ring portion of the cabin Iii. The shaft l8! of an electric generator-starter (not shown) is rotatably mounted in a vertically disposed bearing formed in the bearing portion ill], and beyond the bearing portion carries a bevelled pinion its meshing with a like pinion I89 secured on the end of a shaft 190, which in turn is similarly mounted in a horizontally disposed bearing formed in the bearing portion 18!. Beyond this latter bearing, a shaft I99 carries a second bevelled pinion I95 meshing with a bevelled ring gear I92 rigidly secured to the lower side of thrust ring 9!. A central boss portion 99 of the bracket I providesa support. and bear. ing member for the engine control mechanism to be hereafter described.

The disc, rotary stabilizer or engine casing 12 is of circular airfoil formation, the plane of rotation of which normally includes the line of flight of the engine. Except for such disturbances in the flow of air beneath the disc as may be caused by the down draft from the wings and the upwardly directed flow of air over the cabin, a vertical section through the diameter of the disc would appear in outline as an ellipse with the minor axis thereof being the of rotation of the disc and the major axis being included within the plane of rotation thereof. Some slight variation from this cross sectional outline may be found advisable to compensate for such disturbances so as to provide a neutral airfoil structure in which the aerodynamic forces affecting the upper and lower surfaces of the disc are in equilibrium during translatory flight in a line of flight included in the plane of rotation of the disc.

In addition to providing a rigid support for the wings, the disc also acts as a rotary horizontal stabilizer for the entire aircraft. While presenting only a minimum of resistance or drag opposing translatory flight of the aircraft in its plane of rotation and that of the engine as a whole, nevertheless it does offer considerable resistance to any tendency to making abrupt and intermittent movements normal to such plane, whether such movements be parallel to the normal line of flight or at an angle thereto.

One of the causes which tends to impart to the disc or stabilizer a definite propensity for stabilized movement in the line of flight of the aircraft is the equilibrium of all of the aerodynamic forces which might tend to cause variation from the line of flight of the plane of rotation of the disc.

Another of such causes is the gyroscopic effect resulting from the rotating mass of the engine.

For example, the gyroscopic effect would readily permit any vertical movement of the disc involving angular displacement of the axis of rotation thereof. Such movement, however, would tend immediately to disturb the equilibrium of the aerodynamic forces affecting the disc and hence would be opposed by such forces. On the other hand, a gust of wind producing a variation in relative air speeds affecting different portions of the disc surface might readily disturb the equilibrium of aerodynamic forces afiecting. the disc, thereby tending to cause angular displacement in the axis of rotation of the disc. This would tend to produce either precession of the axis of rotation of the disc, or a slight movement of the entire plane of rotation of the disc suficient to reestablish the equilibrium of aerodynamic forces so disturbed, or some combination of such movements. However, due to the mass of the engine, the centrifugal and gyroscopic effects involved in its rotation, and the considerable time element involved in any precessional movement of the disc, it will be apparent that the disturbance in the equilibrium of aerodynamic forces caused by the gust will be corrected by an equalizing movement in the air long before any measurable movement of the plane or axis of rotation of the disc may occur.

As a support for the wings, the disc l2 also has some very advantageous properties. Com-- paring these wings with wings of conventional rotary wing aircraft supported near the center of rotation, it. will at once be apparent that. the disc prevents the use of a considerable portion of the rotary wing surface adjacent the center of rotation and from which surface some lift ordinarily is obtained. However, it is believed that the advantage gained in using the disc as a wing support far outweighs this loss in lift.

For example, it is possible by th employment of a disc 4 feet in, radius and wings 4 feet in length. to obtain a total lift as great as might be obtained from wings extending from the center of rotation and several times greater in length. This will be more apparent when it is considered that the outer 4 feet of an ordinary rotary wing 16 feet in length lifts or more of the total load carried by the wing. If this outer 4 feet be brought near the center of rotation and fastened to some support such. as the disc I2, its cord can be increased considerably, its thickness increased slightly and its speed greatly increased, until a l-foot length of wing will carry the entire load formerly carried by the 16-foot length of wing; This can be done without creating vibrations of anything like the intensity that would have occurred in the 16-foot Wing hinged at or near the center of rotation.

Referring to Figures 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16, it will be noted that structurally the disc l2 comprises an inner fabricated frame consisting of a centrally and axially disposed casing 82 having attached thereto four equally spaced, radially disposed, flanged beams ii, the outer ends of which are attached to a circumferentially disposed channel. member at. Four arcuate struts 12 are secured at opposite ends between the outer ends of the beams H for circumferentially reinforcing the structure. A thin metallic covering secured over these frame members. not only provides an outer covering for the disc but by reason of the approximately elliptical form of the covering, ab-- sorbs the centrifugal forces generated therein during the rotation of the disc and at the same time reinforces the frame by aiding in the circumferential distribution of the various forces resulting from the rotation of the entire engine structure.

The four wings l3, by the disc 52 upon I4, 55 and It are supported four radially disposed metallic spars or tension members I 94, secured rigid-- ly at their inner ends in cylindrical flanges I projecting radially outwardly from the casing 82. The angular position of the spars its is such that th spars intersect the plane of rotation of the disc in the vicinity of the periphery thereof and from such intersection extend upwardly at about the angle the wings would normally assume under the combination of the centrifugal, lift and drag forces affecting the wings under average conditions of flight. Under other than such condition the spars 94 will bend sufificiently to permit the wings to assume position in which all of these forces will be in equilibrium.

In order to permit this slight movement, the spars are supported at the periphery of the disc i2 by flexible shackles or brackets IE6 secure-d rigidly to the circular channel 89 midway between the outer ends of adjacent pairs of the radial beams l i. These brackets include annular cylindrical cushions 559 formed of rubber or other suitable material and vulcanized at their exterior and interior surfaces respectively to the brackets 596 and tubular bearings I99, the. interior surfaces of which support th spars I94.

The. wings l3, l4, l5 and it are mounted for oscillatory movement on the portions of the spars I94 extending beyond the brackets I96 and the periphery of the disc i2, in bearings formed on the wing ribs.

Beyond the outer ends of the wings I3, l4, l and 16, th spars 19 3 have rigidly secured there to respectively the direct reaction devices or ramjet engines 18, 19,20 and 2!.

The engines, combustors or power generating means [8, i9, 26 and 2| each comprises an elongated tubular combustion-expansion chamber formed by a wall or casing 363, the shape of which is such as to provide a minimum of resistance to rotational movement about the center of the disc l2. The forward end of each of the casings 3 is provided with an axially disposed opening having a valve body 31 projecting therein in such manner as to form with th casing end and an nular inlet opening for the ram compression of air into the casing 38 when the device is rotated about the center of the disc l2. The casing is secured in such position by transversely disposed struts projecting inwardly from the chamber wall. The inlet opening for the casing of each engine may be closed by arcuate shutters 54, the edges of which circumferentially meet when the shutter valve is in the closed position indicated by numeral 65 and separate when the shutter valve is in the open position indicated by the numeral 65. The shutters 6d are pivotally mounted on a shutter supporting ring as indicated at 51, the latter being secured within the forward end of the casing 39 on spaced and radially disposed supports 5M fastened therein in any suitable manner.

As will be noted from Figs. the casings 3% comprises outer and inner sections, the latter being of progressively decreasing diameter toward the forward end of the structure to streamline the flow of air admitted to the chamber and to provide a pressure chamber be" hind the shutters to aid in closing the shutters when the pressure inside the casing 35 exceeds that externally thereof. To permit such pressure to affect the rear of the shutters, the inner reduced section of the casing 36 terminates in such manner as to shutters but does not shield the main portions of the inner surfaces thereof. The pressure is so communicated to the interior of the pressure 4 and 6, each of chamber by a plurality of openings indicated at 1 The rear ends of the engines l8, I9, 26 and 2i are reduced in diameter to provide discharge openings or jets through which the working fluid employed in the engines is discharged into the atmosphere. The cross sectional area of these openings or jets is greater than the annular inlet openings through which air is admitted to the combustion-expansion chambers of the engines.

Inside the casings Bil is secured a plurality of radially disposed fins 59, the forward ends of which are cut out to provide inlet passages in which the valve bodies 3! are positioned and in which annular Venturi members 58 are located and supported upon the fins 59 about the tapered rear end portions of the valve bodies 3!. The venturis 58 are so located with respect to valve bodies 3! and the casings 39 as to divide the inlet passages into passages for primary air inside the venturis and passages for excess air outside the venturis. The passages for primary air are reduced in cross section by tapering ends of the valve bodies projecting into the venturis 53 to provide Venturi throats 51, where the velocity and pressure for the primary air for each engine provide a stop for the ends of the 8 reaches its maximum and minimum values respectively.

In order to supply hydrocarbon or other fuel to the primary air supplied to each of the combustion chambers, to provide a combustible charge therein, the rear end of each valve body is divided by Webs 31a to provide a transversely disposed atomizing chamber 37, the outer extremity of which terminates in the Venturi throat 51 of each engine. A fuel atomizing orifice 36 formed in the end of a flanged valve casing 35 secured in a cylindrical opening 34 formed in each valve body 3! supplies variable quantities of the fuel employed to the atomizing chambers 3?. Opposite the orifices 3d the atomizing chambers have vaporizing walls 62, beyond which are located electric heating coils 61. These coils may be employed when starting the engines, or at all times if desired, for heating the walls 62 whereby at least some of the fuel directed thereagainst by the orifices 3 5 will be vaporized.

Beyond the heating coils til at the rear ends of the valve bodies 3! are spark or glow plugs 59 which serve to ignite the charges formed by the fuel and primary air at the rear ends of the venturis 58. Beyond the venturis 53 the charges burn and expand, thereby heating and expanding the excess air introduced into the combustion chambers around the outside of the venturis. The working fluid so provided is discharged from the chambers to the atmosphere tangentially with respect to the body or engine II, and the reaction thereto, due to the greater interior area exposed to the working fluid at the front ends of the casings than at the rear ends thereof, rotates the body or engine 1 l upon its axis rotation within the bearing 8?. v

In order to be able to control and to vary the fuel supplied by the orifices 36 there is provided within the valve casings 35 needle valves 39 having tapering ends ii! adapted to seat upon the inner edges of the orifices 36 for metering the flow of fuel thereto. Adjacent the tapering ends thereof the valves 39 are slidably supported by guide members 52 while the opposite ends there of are similarly supported by guide members 48 formed as a part of threaded end closure members 3 employed for closing the front ends of the casings 35. The guide members also support the forwardly disposed ends of valve springs it, while the opposite ends of the springs engage discs d5 fastened upon intermediate portions of the valves 39. The space inside each of the valve casings 35 is divided into a fuel chamber and a fuel pressure equalizing chamber by bellows 59, the opposite ends of which are secured to the edges of discs 45 and to annular shoulders formed on the inside surfaces of the valve casing 35. The valve bodies 3i have hollow removable front end portions 56 for providing access to the valve mechanisms disposed interiorly thereof.

The fuel chambers, which communicate with orifices 35 formed in the valve casings 35, are supplied with fuel by conduits 35, the opposite ends of which in turn communicate with ports I I! of fuel distributing valve N2, the latter being located at the axis of rotation of the engine A l within the central portion of the casing 82.

In order to neutralize the effect of centrifugal force upon the fuel within the fuel chambers of the valve casings 35 supplied by the conduits 38, the pressure equalizing chambers within the valve casings 35 all are connected by conduits 53 to a static liquid supply chamber 83, the upper end 84 of which provides a portion of the exterior covering of the disc I2. The supply chamber 83 is supported at the center of the disc I2 upon the upper end of head portion 222 of the casing 82. The chamber 83 is provided with any suitable means for exposing the interior thereof to atmospheric pressure and for filling and refilling the chamber with any suitable liquid having a specific gravity comparable to that of the fuel employed.

During the rotation of the engine ii the centrifugal force developed within the conduits neutralizes and opposes that developed within the conduits 38, thereby avoiding the effect of centrifugal force upon surfaces of the discs 35. It is therefore possible to control the rate of discharge of fuel by the orifices by independently varying the pressure and quantity of the fuel supplied to the conduits 38 by the fuel distribution valve I I2.

The valve I I2 is supported for rotation with the disc I2 upon a ring I it secured to the inside of the casing 82 and having radially disposed arms Hi6 formed integrally therewith the inner ends of which are secured to the valve casing. The casing has an axial cylindrical bore H3 in which is slidably and relatively rotatably mounted a valve piston I I4, the lower end of which is secured upon the upper end of a control rod Hit projccting outwardly of the valve casing through a casing head I I l.

The rod is slidably and rotatably supported within a tubular control member 279 which in turn is slidably support-ed inside second tubular control member ass which likewise is slidably supported within a tubular support member 98, the latter being secured rigidly at its lower end upon a central boss portion 59 of the bracket Ifiil. Beneath the bracket the control rod 43E has secured thereto a circumferentiall grooved collar I3! and beneath the collar a circumferentially grooved wheel I456. The wheel Mil is provided with an actuating cable it! for rotating the rod 30 and the valve piston response to the will of the operator.

The collar i 3! has secured thereon by a pin i33 engaging the circumferential groove formed thereon an actuating ring H4 having a boss projecting therefrom which is pivotally attached to an arm of a bell crank lever I35. A pin I36 pivotally supports lever E35 upon a support bar it"! projecting downwardly from the boss portion 4 95 of the bracket itil. The opposite arm of the lever is pivotally attached to an actuating rod 138 by means of which the operator may move the rod 130 vertically for moving the valve piston I it axially within the bore l 13.

The upper portion of the valve piston lid is provided with an axial cylindrical opening I it the lower end of which is in communication through radial openings IZI with an annular opening 12% formed around an intermediate portion of the valve piston. An intermediate portion of the axial opening H also communicates with the exterior of the valve piston H4 through a plurality of radially disposed openings H5.

In the present instance there are five of the radially disposed openings I15 all in the same plane of rotation and all equally spaced from one another. These openings I15 in the position of the valve shown by Fig. 10 are located in the same plane with valve ports ii'l formed in the casing of the valve M2 and are adapted successively to communicate with each of these ports. Since there are four of the ports II! spaced at 90 degrees about the valve casing it will be apparent that in one revolution or cycle of theen- 10 gine N there will be twenty instances spaced equally from the standpoint of time in which the bore I i3 of the distributing valve 312 will communicate with the fuel supply chambers of the engines I8, 59, 2 1i and 2! communicating with the orifices 36.

The annular opening hit is formed by an upper edge portion 222 of the valve piston i5 2 which is disposed normally with respect to the axis of the piston M 3. The opposite edge of the opening [20 is formed by an edge portion 124 extending normally with respect to said axis and an edge portion iZ'i disposed at an angle with respect thereto. The annular opening lZfi also is in open communication with the lower end of the valve piston I14 through a, bleeder opening I27, this latter opening being provided in order to equalize the pressure on opposite ends of the valve piston -I 14 to permit the piston to be easily moved axially within the bore.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the operator may move the valve piston H i to a position in which the openings H5 intermittently and successively communicate with the ports I I l or into a different position in which the annular opening I26 is in open communication with some or all of the ports I IT. This may be done by the operator merely by moving the actua-ting rod I38, thus moving the bell crank lever 535 upon its fulcrum 36 to increase or decrease the elevation of the rod E38 and the valve piston IM.

Liquid fuel is supplied to the interior of the fuel distributing valve H2 for selective and variable distribution to the engines I8, I9, 20 and El by a supply conduit H0 communicating with a suitable fuel pump 55 secured by a supporting bracket to the inside of the casing 82 adjacent the lower extremity thereof. The pump 95 has a driving pinion 96 meshing with ring gear 97 supported upon the upper flanged end of the tubuiar supporting member 98.

Since the supporting member tate with the disc I2, by reason of its rigid support upon the bracket I at, it will be apparent that rotation of the pump 95 with the casing 82 of the disc I2 will cause rotation of the pump drive pinion 96 by the ring gear 97. In order to supply hydrocarbon fuel to the pump 95, the latter is provided with a supply conduit I09, the opposite end of which communicates with an annular channel I06 formed in a flanged collar I01 supported upon the flanged upper end portion 10 of the bearing member 8d. The flanged collar I 0'! also is rotatably mounted upon an upper portion of the tubular supporting member 98 between the disc It and the ring gear 9'1. In order to prevent leakage of fuel from the annular channel I06, there is provided a pair of sealing rings 108, the two being located within the ring I 0? on opposite sides of the channel I 96. The channel it is supplied with hydrocarbon fuel by a duct I formed vertically within the supporting member 98 at one side thereof and the lower end of which is in open-communication with a conduit I9 3 the opposite end of which in turn communicates with the fuel tank I93 located beneath the floor of the cabin I0.

In order to control the quantity of fuel delivered by the'conduit Hi) to the bore I I3 ofthe fuel distributing valve IIZ, there is provided between the discharge conduit I Hi and the supply conduit I09 a by-pass valve I 48 which is secured to the casing 82 and which communicates with the aforesaid conduits H0 and I09 $8 does not rothrough conduits I69 and I59 respectively. The by-pass valve I48 is provided with a supporting bracket to which an actuating lever I52 is secured as at I53. One end of the lever L52 is secured to an actuating rod I54 for operating the bypass valve Ida while the opposite end thereof is pivotally secured as indicated I55 to radially extending arm I56 projecting outwardly from a ring IE'I which is mounted for rotation upon the enlarged upper end of previously mentioned tubular control member I58. In order to mount the ring I51 in position upon the upper end of the member I53 there is provided a pin It? and a circumferential groove IGI, the two being operatively associated with one another and the members I58 and I? to accomplish such end.

In order to actuate the control member I58 for controlling the operation of the by-pass valve I48 there is provided at the lower end of the member I58 beneath the bracket I69 a radially projecting arm I65, the end of which is connected by a pin and slot structure indicated at I66, to one end of a bell crank lever I551. The lever I6? is operatively mounted upon a pin I68 projecting from the support bar I333. The opposite arm of the lever I8; is pivotally connected to an actuating rod ill) by means of which the operator of the craft may move the control member I58 upwardly or downwardly thereby actuating the bell crank lever I52 for variably opening or closing the by-pass valve hi8.

It will be apparent from the structure described that the greater the opening cf the by-pass valve I48, the less will be the quantity and pressure of the fuel supplied to the interior of the valve H2. Conversely, the further bypass valve Itfi is moved toward closed position, the greater will be the pressure and quantity of fuel admitted to the interior of the valve H2.

In order to provide for the electrical energization of the spark or glow plugs 89 for starting the operation of the engine II, there is provided on an extension of the shaft of the pump 35 a magneto I which, like the pump 95, is mounted for rotation with the casing 82. The magneto is provided with ground conductor I82 and an electrical current supply conductor IBI, the latter being divided into a plurality of conductors, one for each of the spark plugs 69. Since each of the plugs 69 is also grounded, it is apparent that the magneto will continuously furnish electrical energy for energizing the plugs 655 until the circuit provided by the conductor I3! is broken. Since the energization of the spark plugs 86 is necessary only during the starting of the engines I8, I9, 26 and 2 I, a switch for breaking the circuit through conductor may be provided if desired.

The coils SI for vaporizing fuel discharged into the atomizing chambers 31 by the orifices 38 also are supplied with electrical energy by a divided conductor I83, the inner end of which is attached to a brush I85 supported upon a downwardly projecting rod formed integrally with one of the arms I556. The brush I85 engages and rotates about a collector ring I85 supported upon and insulated from control rod I30 by an insulating sleeve I86. The collector ring I85 is supplied with electrical energy by a conductor IBBa, having one end attached to the ring I85 and from which end the conductor passes through an opening formed axially throughout the length of the rod I30 therebeneath and terminates within the cabin II) where the conductor is connected to a storage battery or other suitable source of electrical energy (not shown).- Both the battery and the heating coils fiI are grounded to the metallic frame of the structure for transmitting electrical energy through the other side of the line so formed. The battery may be connected to and charged by the starter generator unit previously mentioned at times during which the unit is being operated by the rotation of the engine II as a generator. The circuit of the heating coils GI also may be provided with a suitable switch (not shown) by which the circuit therethrough may be made or broken when heat for vaporizing the fuel is required or not required, as the case may be.

In order to provide means for operating the wings I3, I4, I5 and I6 in such manner as to provide the lift and startability necessary to fly the engine II for carrying the cabin la in vertical and translatory flight, there is provided for each of the Wings (Figs. 6, 12 and 16) operating rods 2W which are secured in flanged openings 28! formed in the wing ribs 2%, longitudinally of the wings and adjacent the trailing edges thereof. The inner extremities'of these rods 2% extend within the disc I2 where the ends thereof are secured rigidly to yokes 25.13 having upper and lower horizontal supporting ends 2% and 205, respectively. Pairs of springs 205 and 2d? at opposite ends rest against the supporting portions 204 and 205, respectively, of the yokes 203, while the adjacent ends rest upon opposite surfaces of operating plates 26% secured at one edge to an intermediate portion of vertically disposed tubular slide members 2I0.

Guide rods 2 I I having the opposite ends thereof secured rigidly to upper and lower portions of the disc I2 engage the interior surfaces of the slide members 2H! for holding the same in proper position for actuating the yokes 203. The slide members 2 II] are adapted to be moved vertically upon the rods 2II in response to the operation of grooved wheels 2 I6 supported within the disc I2 by brackets 2 I? and having radially disposed arms 2I5 pivotally connected by rods 2I2 to boss portions projecting from the members 2H8.

The grooved wheels ZIG are adapted to be rotated in opposite directions for actuating the slide members 2H) by cables 2I8, the opposite ends of which extend radially inwardly to the interior of the casing 82 where they are there associated with a plurality of grooved wheels 2 I9 supported by brackets extending downwardly from the casing head 222. In order to be able to move the cables M8 for changing the angles of attack of the wings I3, I4, I5 and I5, there is provided a servo-motor consisting of a flexible bellows 232 the upper end of which is supported by a boss 233 projecting downwardly from the central portion of the casing head 222. The opposite end of the bellows 232 is closed by a head 23I having four bifurcated brackets 23!) extending downwardly therefrom in each of which an end 22! of four bell crank levers 224 are secured by pins 229. The bell crank levers 224 are pivotally supported at 225 by brackets 225 projecting radially inwardly from the adjacent wall of the casing 82. The opposite ends 223 of the levers are secured to the cables 2IS in such manner as to provide for the movement of the cables backwardly and forwardly for variably elevating the trailing edges of the wings I3, I4, I5 and E6 to vary the angles of attack of the wings.

In order to operate the servo-motor in such manner as to actuate the cables 2! 8, there is provided in the boss 233 inlet and outlet ports 240 and 24!, respectively, which are connected respectively by conduits 242 and 243 to outlet and inlet ports 248 and 253 respectively of a rotary control valve 246. The valve 2% is secured in position within the interior of the easing 82 by inwardly projecting bracket The control valve .245 consists of an annular cylindrical casing 2% having an annular cylindrical rotary member 268 disposed therein. Within the rotary valve member 255 is a second cylindrical rotary valve member 25?, the two rotary members 265 and 26'! being provided with cranks 286 and 2%, respectively, by which the two members may be rotated with respect to one another and with respect to the valve casing 246. The lever 286 is pivotally connected by a rod 28? to a box 258 extending downwardly from the central portion of the head 26!.

Assuming the bellows 32 to be filled with liquid, it will be apparent that any increase in the supply of liquid within the bellows 232 will move head 23! thereof downwardly and by reason or" the linkage previously described will rotate the rotary member 2 16 in a counterclockwise direction. Conversely, any decrease in the supply of liquid within the bellows 232 will by reason of such linkage rotate the valve member 265 in a clockwise direction.

The arm 275 is connected by a rod 2755 to the outwardly projecting arm of a rotary bracket 2'58, having a pin 285 engaging an annular channel 28! formed in the upper extremity of tubular control member 219 on which the bracket 2%! is rotatably mounted. The lower end of control member 2'59 has an arm 282 attached thereto having a pin and slot connection to one end of a bell crank lever 283 secured upon a pin 284 projecting outwardly from support arm I31. The opposite end of the lever 283 is pivo-tally connected to a control rod 285 by the operation of which it will be apparent that the member 219 may be raised and lowered.

When the operator does raise and lower the rod 279 it will be apparent that the linkage between this rod and the rotary cylinder 218 will rotate the member 28? in clockwise or counterclockwise directions, respectively.

The valve outlet port 248, previously referred to, which communicates with the interior surface of the valve casing 245, is disposed adjacent one end of the casing and in a position diametrically opposite a valve inlet port 249 also communicating with the interior of the casing. Similarly the valve inlet port 253 is located adjacent the opposite end of the valve casing 248 and likewise communicates with the interior surface thereof. Also diametrically opposite the valve inlet port 253 is a similar port 254 communicating with the interior surface of the casing. The port 2:19 is adapted to be supplied with liquid under pressure by a conduit 255, the opposite end of which communicates with the discharge side of a pump 25! secured by a bracket to the interior of the casing 82. Similarly the port 25s is connected by a conduit 255, a tank 256 and a conduit 25? to the inlet side of pump 25!. A drive shaft for the pump 25! is provided with a drive pinion meshing with the ring gear and during the rotation of the engine it liquid under pressure will be continuously supplied to the port 269 by the conduit 250 and will be continuously exhausted from the port 254 by the conduit 255.

In order to provide means by which communication may be provided at the option of the vehicle operator, between the port 249 and the port 248 there is provided in the sleeve member 260 and the cylindrical member 25! ports 26! 262 and 268, respectively, all of which openings are formed diametrically within the members 265 and 26! in such manner as 'to be registerable with one another and to provide open communication between the ports 249 and 2&8 when .such communication is desired.

Likewise the opposite end of member 260 'i's'provided with diametrically opposed openings 265 and 253, and member 261 is provided with a diametrically extending opening 269, all of such openings being adapted to provide open communication between the ports 253 and 254 when desired.

It will be apparent from Fig. 10 that when the operator of the craft moves the actuating rod 285 in such manner as to rotate the valve member 25'! to a slight extent in a counterclockwise direction, there will be provided by the openings 25!, 262 and 268 an open communication between the discharge side of the pump 25! and the interior of the bellows 232. Accordingly liquid will be pumped by the pump into the bellows and as a result thereof the head end 23! of the bellows will be moved downwardly in such manner as to actuate the linkage for operating the member 255 to likewise rotate the member 250 in a counterclockwise direction. As a result of such rotation of the member 26!) it is apparent that the fluid supply to the bellows 232 resulting from the previously described counterclockwise rotation of the member 251 will be cut off by 'thecorre'sponding rotation of the member 269 and further-downward movement of the head end as: of the bellows 232 thereupon will be discontinued.

By referring now to Fig. 6 it will be apparent that the previously described downward movement of the head end 23! of the bellows 232 will actuate the cables 2 E8 in such manner as to move the slide members 2) upwardly, thus increasing the compression of springs 205 and decreasing the compression of springs 28?. As a result of this change in compression of the springs 296 and 2975', the yokes 253 will be moved upwardly and consequently the trailing edge of the wings 213, 214, 2! 5 and 2!6 will be simultaneously raised to decrease equally the angles of attack of all of the wings.

Referring again to Fig. 10 it will be apparent that if the operator actuates the rod 285 in such manner as to rotate the member 26! slightly in clockwise direction, the port 269 wil be moved :into a position into which it will register with ports 2'65 and 265, thereby connecting the outlet port 2 with the inlet side of the compressor 25! and as a result of which liquid will be pumped out of the bellows 232 to elevate the head 23!. As a result of such elevation of the head 23! the linkage between the head and valve member 260 will operate in such manner as to rotate the member 260 in a clockwise direction to such an extent :as to cut oil the communication previously established between the bellows 232 and the pump 25! and consequently the contracting movement of the bellows will be discontinued.

By referring again to Fig. 6 it will be apparent that the previously described limited elevational movement of the head 23! of the bellows .232 will oppositely change the compression of springs 206 and 297 with respect to that previously described and as a consequence thereof the trailing edges of the wings I3, !4, l5 and I 6 will be lowered, thus be no tendency simultaneously and equally increasing the angles of attack of all of the wings.

In this manner and by the right amount of movement of actuating rod 285 in either direction the operator of the aircraft may position the wings l3, l4, l5 and 16 at any desired angle of attack with respect to the plane of rotation of the engine ll.

Referring now to Figs. 12 and 16, as well as to Fig. 6, it may be stated that the spars I94 are not positioned directly beneath the longitudinal center of pressure of the as is ordinarily done in the construction of aircraft wings. Instead of such normal construction the spars I94 are positioned slightly forwardly of the longitudinal center of lift thereof. This is done to make inherent in the construction of the wings a slight tendency for the wings to rotate into positions of decreasing angles of attack as the loads on the wings increase. Conversely, with such construction the wings will tend to rotate into positions of increasing angles of attack as the loads on the wings decrease. By referring to Fig. 6 it will be apparent that the springs 206 and 257 will merely adjust themselves in a position to compensate for such tendency whenever the craft is merely moving vertically upwardly or downwardly and has no translatory motion with respect to the air. It will be apparent that under such circumstances there will for the loads on the different wings to vary throughout each revolution of the engine H.

However, there is a tendency for the loads on the different wings to vary during translatory flight of the aircraft. With the construction described, in which the spars I94 are positioned slightly forwardly of the longitudinal centers of pressure upon the wings, the springs 208 and 201 will tend to be compressed differently when the load on any wing tends to increase or to decrease. For example, the load on an advancing wing will tend to increase because the air speed affecting such a wing will be the air speed resulting from the rotational movement of the wing plus the air speed due to the translational movement of the wing. Such combination of air speeds upon such an advancing wing will tend to increase the lift of the wing. However, due to the fact that the spar of such a wing is disposed slightly forwardly of the longitudinal center of lift of the wing, this tendency to increase the load upon the wing will rotate the wing upon the spar in such manner as to decrease the angle of attack of such wing and under which circumstances such tendency to increase the load upon the wing resulting from such increase in air speed will all but disappear.

Conversely, the air speed over a retreating wing will be the air speed due to the rotational movement of the wing minus the air speed due to the translational movement thereof. This resultant reduction of air speed over such wing will tend to decrease the total load upon the wing, and, as previously described, to increase the angle of attack of the wing. This increase in angle of attack likewise will result in the disappearance of all but a tendency to decrease the total load upon the wing under such circumstances.

. Referring now to Fig. 18, the numeral 3H) is a curve indicating the performance of a wing which is particularly applicable to aircraft such as that herein described. According to this graph the wing is so designed in cross section that the lift upon the wing will increase in pounds per Wings l3, l4, l5 and i6,

the air speed over the wing increases to the point where the slope thereof is zero at 450 miles per hour, and thereafter the lift per square foot upon the wing will decrease at exactly the same rate it had previously increased up to an air speed of 700 miles per hour over the wing. With such a wing the normal operating speed of the engine would be the number of revolutions per minute required to produce an average speed over the wing of 450 miles an hour (39,600 feet per minute) throughout one complete revolution. With four such wings applied to the present aircraft the lift in pounds per square foot upon each wing will be the maximum lift for the wing indicated in Fig. 18 by the line 3! l at all times during vertical ascent or descent of the aircraft. However, with any translational movement the performance of each wing will vary as the descending portions of the curve am on opposite sides of the normal speed point at 450 miles per hour as its speed increased and decreased above the normal speed of 450 miles per hour. Under such circumstances the performance of all of the wings will be a combination of the maximum and minimum lift of any wing throughout each complete revolution of the engine, or as is indicated by the curve 3 l2.

In order to start the engine H the aircraft operator merely actuates the engine starter in such manner as to rotate the shaft 181 and this will result in the rotation of the engine il in response to the operation of the starter drive pinion I9! in rotating the ring gear I92. With the wings l3, i i, i5 and I6 in their zero angle of attack position, which may be simultaneously brought about by the operation of the valve 244, as hereinbefore described, the engine will be easily accelerated to the normal starting speed, due to the fact that there is no load on the engine other than the drag of the wings at zero angles of attack and. the slight frictional resistance involved in the operation of the bearing 86 by which the engine is supported.

With the valve piston H t in the position indicated by Fig. 10 the operator will then slightly close the by-pass valve 58 by actuating the rod 110, thus supplying a quantity of fuel from the pump to the cylindrical bore N3 of the distributing valve H2. This fuel will be intermittently supplied to the ports ill by the ports I 15 which receive fuel from the bore ii i through the axial passage I 15. Under such circumstances each port i ll will communicate with each of the five ports H5 which will result in supplying to each of the enginesziii, H), 2B and 25 five separate charges of liquid fuel for each revolution of the engine i 6. Since there are four equally spaced ports HT, this will result in supplying to all of the engines 18, is, 2G and 2! twenty equally spaced charges of liquid fuel for each revolution of the engine H.

Due to the fact that the orifices 36 will tend normally to remain closed by the spring pressed valves 39, it will be apparent that each of the charges of liquid fuel received by any of the engines i8, I9, 28 or 2! will tend to increase the amount of liquid fuel in the fuel supplying compartment of the valve body 3! of each engine which will result in the valves 39 opening slightly to discharge through the orifices 35 an amount of liquid fuel equal to each of the charges intermittently supplied to the ports Ml. When such charges of fuel are intermittently supplied to the atomizing chambers 31, the charges will tend to be atomized by the orifices 36 and vaporsquare foot as 17 ized by the heating coils 6| to provide intermittent vaporized and atomized charges to the throats El of the venturis 53. Since the shutter valves 6 will have been forced open by the ram compression of air against the front ends of the engines it, It, 2i! and 2!, it will be apparent that the continuous flow of primary air through the venturis 55 will intermittently pick up these charges of vaporized and atomized fuel and will form intermittent charges of vaporized and atomized fuel and primary air in the portion of the venturis 58 adjacent, the spark plugs 60. Assuming the spark plugs to have previously been energized, it will be apparent that these intermittent charges of primary fuel and air will be burned or exploded as they pass beyond the venturis 58 into the interior of the casings 30. Such intermittent burning of combustible charges in the casings 38 will result in the intermittent,

eating of the excess air received from the inlet passages of the casings and flowing into the casings around the outside of the venturis 58'. Such intermittent combustion of combustible charges and heating of excess air will intermittently increase the pressure within the casings 30, and this will result in intermittently closing the shutter valves 6 3 and in discharging through the discharge openings of the casings a high velocity mass or jet consisting of the products of combustion and heated excess air, this being the working fluid in response to the discharge of which the engines I8, I9, 28 and 2| receive a thrust or reaction tending to move the engines forwardly and to rotate the engine II. When this intermittent discharge of working fluid from the engines it, i9, 23 and ill commences, the acceleration in rotational movement of the engine i i also commences, and thereafter the speed of rotation of the engine II will increase if desired until the capacity of the engines I8, I9, 23 and M operating as intermittent, pulse jet or resonance engines is reached. The engines I8, I d, 2% and iii are so designed that when this speed of rotation of the engine II is reached the ram compression effect upon the inlet openings of the engines will be sufiicient that the engines may thereafter be operated as continuous ram-jet engines (sometimes called athodyd).

To bring about this variation in operation the operator of the craft is merely required to actuate the rod its in such manner as to raise the valve piston I M until the edge l22 of the annular opening 122 is just above the ports II'I. In this position it is apparent that liquid fuel will be continuously supplied to the ports II'I throughout each rotation of the engine I I. Since liquid fuel is now being continuously supplied to the fuel chambers of the valve bodies 3|, the valves til will now remain continuously open against the pressure of the springs 45 and liquid fuel will be continuously discharged into the atomizing chambers Such discharge of fuel into these atomizing chambers will result in the formation of continuous combustible mixtures in the threats of the venturis 58 and in the continuous ignition of such charges beyond the venturis 58. L e speed at which this continuous combustion of combustible charges may be brought about is any speed at which the ram compression effect of the atmosphere upon the front ends of the engines i8, i9, 28 and 2i is greater than the rate of flame propagation at which such charges are ignitable.

"t will be apparent that engines I8, I9, 20 and 2i will be capable of developing a greatly increased thrust when so operated as continuous internal, combustion engines due to the fact that the average pressure within the engines is at all times greater than it is possible to obtain when the engines are operated intermittently. As a result of continuous operation there is also a continuous reaction from the discharge of working fluid therefrom and this also is at all times the maximum that may be developed in engines of such size.

By operating the rod 285' to increase the supply of liquid fuel delivered by the pump to the distributing valve '2', the operator may now increase the speed of rotation of the engine I I until the engine is idling at any normal operating speed which it is desired to employ.

In order to fly the engine II in such manner as to raise the cabin I0 vertically off the ground, the operator is required merely to actuate the rods I10 and 285 to simultaneously increase the angle of attack of each wing and to supply a sulficiently increased amount of fuel to the distributing valve H2 so that the operating speed of the engine will remain constant under such increased load. As the angles of attack of the wings increase, the wing loading will increase until the total load sustained by all the wings exceeds somewhat the weight of the entire aircraft structure. Under such circumstances the craft will rise vertically off the ground.

In the event the operator of the craft may wish to turn the cabin Ill around so that the front end of the cabin will be pointed in a diiferent direction, the operator will merely actuate the worm shaft 2 19a in one direction or another, thus tilting the vertical control member 29: upon the axis of the shaft 293. Under such circumstances the annular down draft or slip stream from the wings [3, I4, I5 and I6 will impinge against a surface disposed angularly with respect to the. parallel currents of air within the slip stream, and as a result thereof the cabin II] will be rotated slowly upon the bearing 81. When the cabin I0 reaches the desired position the operator will again actuate the worm shaft 295a to again dispose the control surface member 2st in its normal vertical position and in which position it is disposed in parallel relation to the currents of air so generated by the wings.

When the operator desires to start the translational movement of the aircraft, this is done by cyclic propulsion resulting from a further actuation of the rods I38 and Ill}. The rod I38 is actuated in such manner as to further elevate the valve piston H4 within the bore H3 to such an extent that the transversely disposed end surface I 24 of the annular channel I20 cuts 01f at the same azimuth position a part of the communication. for a part of each revolution or cycle between the annular channel I20 and the ports I ll. Due tothe slope of the surface I23 it will be apparent that the ports II 7 will still fully cornmunicate with the annular channel I2ii at opposite azimuth positions during the remainder of each revolution or cycle. The rod I 76 also is actuated simultaneously with the valve piston IM in such manner as to further close th bypass valve I 48 to thereby increase the pressure and quantity of fuel delivered to the bore H3.

Under such circumstances it will be apparent that the engines I8, I9, 20 and 2| will successively receive more fuel from the distribution valve H2 during a part of a cycle of rotation of the engine I I than they will during the remainder of the cycle. At the same time due to the increased pressure and quantity of fuel delivered to the bore H3 the engines may be made to receive as much or more fuel during such a cycle of rotation than was true when the ports H1 all received. equal amounts of fuel through the annular port I28. As a matter of fact the piston H4, if the operator desires, may be further elevated until the surface I24 completely cuts off the flow of fuel through the ports H1 during a part of each cycle of rotation and at the same time the pressure and quantity of fuel delivered to the bore H3 may :be increased by operating the by-pass valve Hi8 until a greater amount of fuel is delivered to the engines during a part of the cycle than was previously delivered when the ports I H remained fully. open throughout the cycle. It will be apparent that the cyclic propulsion of the engines l8, I9, 29 and 2| may be made to follow any desired pattern of variation between a minimum propulsion force at the Zero degree position or azimuth points in a cycle and maximum propulsion force at the ISO-degree position or azimuth point by making suitable variations in the distributing valve structure.

The performance of the engine I l during these different extremes of operation is graphically illustrated in Fig. 17 where the area indicated by the numeral i'H illustrates the performance of the engine I! when uniform quantities of fuel are delivered to all of the engines l8, I9, 20 and 2| during a single cycle of operations or revolution of the engine H, and the area indicated by the numeral H2 illustrates such performance when variable quantities of fuel are delivered to the engines l8, i9, 20 and 2! during such cycle of of operations. From the area indicated by the numeral ill it will be apparent that at zero degrees of each cycle of operations a certain quantity of fuel is delivered to all of the engines l8, I9, 20 and 2!, and this same quantity of fuel is delivered to all of the engines during a complete cycle or 360 degrees of angular movement thereof. By observing the area indicated at I12 it will be apparent that at the beginning of a cycle or at Zero degrees during each revolution no fuel at all may be supplied to the engines l8, I9, 20 and 2! as they successively pass through this portion of the cycle, but thereafter the fuel supplied to each of the engines l8, I9, 20 and 2| is increased until at the l80-degree position in the cycle ach engine is successively supplied with a maximum quantity of fuel as is indicated by the top of the area 572. Thereafter the amount of fuel successively supplied to each engine again decreases until at the end of the cycle or the 360- degree position therei nthe fuel successively supplied to each engine 13, I9, 20 and 2i again becomes zero.

Referring now to Fig. 3 and assuming the engine id to be at the beginning or zero degree position in a cycle and the engine Hi to be at the middle or lSiJ-degree position in the cycle, it is apparent that the engine would immediately tend to move toward the north, assuming the upper part of the drawing to represent this direction. This would result from the fact that the drag upon the wing l3 would not now be overcome by an equivalent thrust exerted by the engine i3, whereas the drag on the wing l5 would now be opposed by a thrust exerted by the engine 26 at least twice as great as was formerly applied in overcoming the drag opposing the wing i5. Under such circumstances the equilibrium of thrust and drag forces which occurred when equal amounts of fuel were being supplied to each 7.5

engine during an entire cycle would be disturbed and the entire structure would tend to move translationally until such equilibrium of forces is reestablished. Such equilibrium will be reestablished when the drag upon all of the wings at the zero position in each cycle becomes zero, since the thrust of the engines in such position is zero and the drag upon all of the wings at the lSO-degree position in the cycle becomes equal to the increased thrust of the engines when each successively reaches such position. Under such circumstances the engine H will actually tend to roll upon the air with each engine and Wing unit tending to assume a relative speed of zero with respect to air at the zero position in each cycle of operations, and each engine and wing unit at the HBO-degree position in each cycle will tend to travel at a relative speed with respect to the air twice as great as the linear or peripheral speed of each engine prior to the commencement of such translational movement. The translational speed of the axis of rotation of the engine l3 therefore will be equal to the linear or pe ripheral speed of the engine during purely rotational movement thereof minus the parasite drag resulting from the translational movement of the various parts of the aircraft other than the wings.

To illustrate this principle of translational motion by cyclic propulsion, assume the engine H to be rotating at a peripheral speed of 39,600 feet per minute or 450 miles per hour and that there is no parasite drag. Ihen with the fuel distributed to provide a zero propulsive effect at the zero position in the cycle and a maximum propulsive effect at the lSO-degree position in the cycle, the relative translational speed of each successive portion of the engine at the zero position in the cycle would be zero feet per minute or zero miles per hour; at the lBO-degree position, 79,200 feet per minute or 900 miles per hour; and at the center of rotation, 39,600 feet per minute or 450 miles per hour. ihis theoretical translational speed line therefore may be seen to be equal to the peripheral or linear speed of rotation. The parasite drag of course makes such theoretical speeds unattainable, consequently the translational speed at the zero position will be greater than zero feet per minute; at the ISO-degree position, less than twice the peripheral speed of rotation and that at the center of rotation, less than the peripheral or linear speed of rotation.

In order to change the direction of the translational movement so provided it is merely necessary for the operator to actuate the cable It! to rotate the valve piston I M, as a result of which the zero position in each cycle of operations will be correspondingly changed. When this occurs, it will be apparent from the foregoing description, that the direction of application of the thrust forces exerted by the engines 18, i9, 2E and 2! will be likewise changed and the direction of translational movement of the engine 13 will change to agree with the establishment of this new angular position for the cycle of operations. During such change in direction the cabin ill will merely rotate upon the bearing 11 until the forward end thereof points in such new direction of flight.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the engine ll due to the variable application of thrust forces internally thereof is inherently capable of both vertical and translational flight in any direction Without the application of any con- 21 trols whatever which might be located upon the cabin Ill.

However, it is possible by controlling the gyroscopic effect inherent in the operation of engine it to bank turns in either direction against the solidity of the disc l2 and the wings 13, M, It: and it or to change the angle of incidence of the disc and wings in such manner as to dive or climb, as such maneuvers are performed by conventional aircraft.

For example, if the control surface member 255 is elevated, this will tend to exert a force against the axis of rotation of the engine ll tending to move the lower part of the axis forwardly which, according to the clockwise direction of rotation disclosed by Fig. 3, will cause the axis of the engine to precess in such manner as to elevate the wing 13 and depress the wing l5. Likewise, if the control surface member 295 is depressed, this will tend to tilt the lower end of the axis of rotation of the engine H backwardly which will produce a resultant precession of the plane of the engine II to depress the wing it and elevate the wing l5.

Referring to 1, it will be apparent, as has been heretofore described, that the control surface member ass is within the annular slip stream from the wings as the aircraft moves vertically within the air and prior to any translational movement thereof. However, it will also be apparent from observing this figure that control surface member 296 will move forwardly out of the path of the annular slip stream from the wings when the aircraft attains a suficient speed of translational movement. Under such circumstances the control surface member 295 will then move into the path of the slip stream. resulting from the translational movement of the cabin is and particularly will be affected by that part of the slip stream which passes over the cabin and downwardly along the downwardly sloping surface at the rear of the cabin. If under such circumstances the control surface memher 2% is rotated upon the axis 293, it will then present an angularly disposed surface to the downward portion of the slip stream over the cabin ill and consequently the lower portion of the axis of rotation of the engine I i will tend to be rotated in one direction or another and in a plane at 90 degrees with respect to the line of flight of the aircraft. Such tendency to rotate the axis of rotation of the engine II will immediately tend to produce a precessional movement of the axis of rotation in a plane 90 degrees with respect to the plane of the force applied to the axis and as a consequence thereof the plane of rotation of the engine i! will tend to change its angle of incidence so as to cause the aircraft either to dive or to climb.

By operating the control surface members simultaneously it is possible to obtain any desired combination of these movements as is done in conventional aircraft.

In the event of any failure of power, it will be apparent that the wings l3, l4, and 95 may be so adjusted in angles of attack that autorotation of the engine will result. The lift, however, which can be obtained by the wings under such circumstances, and particularly at the greatly reduced speed at which they would then rotate, under some circumstances might be insuificient to land the craft safely. Also at such reduced speed of rotation the gyroscopic effect resulting from the rotation of the engine l lwould be decreased to such an extent that the "control charge means,

surface members 290 and 295 and :the ailerons 383 may then be operated merely as a rudder and an elevator respectively is employed on an ordinary glider. Pursuant to this end and by proper manipulation of the control surface member 295 as an elevator, the craft may be made to have sufficient forward movement that the disc I2, notwithstanding its rotational movement resulting from the autorotation of the wings of the aircraft, may be positioned to provide an angle of incidence such that the disc will cease to perform as a neutral airfoil surface and will perform as a fixed wing of a glider type aircraft to aid the wings I3, I l, I5 and 15 in slowing the descent of the craft to provide a safer landing speed.

This application is a continuation of applica-- tion Serial No. 696,013, filed July 19, 1945, for Aircraft, now abandoned.

What is claimed is:

l. A direct reaction engine comprising a body having an axis of rotation, a wall providing a chamber associated with said body, said wall having a discharge opening formed therein for the discharge of working fluid from said chamber, said opening being directed to discharge said working fluid tangentially with respect to a'porion of said body for rotating said body by direct reaction on said axis, means for supplying working fluid to said chamber, means for heating said working fluid in said chamber, means for varying between maximum and minimum discharge rates at diametrically opposed azimuth points the discharge of said working fluid from said discharge opening for effecting a directional reaction upon body transversely with respect to said axis of rotation, means for maintaining said variation in the discharge of working fluid from said discharge opening at said azimuth points throughout a complete range of loads and speeds for said engine, and means for changing said variation to different diametrically opposed azimuth points for changing the directional reaction upon said body for controlling the direction of movement of said body.

2. A direct reaction engine comprising a body having an axis of rotation, a wall providing a chamber associated with said body, said wall having a discharge opening therein for the discharge of working fluid from said chamber, said opening being directed to discharge said working fluid tangentially with respect to a portion of said body for rotating said body by direct reaction on said axis, means for supplying working fluid to said chamber, means for heating said working fluid, means for varying the heating of said working fluid between the same diametrically opposed azimuth points during successive revolutions of said body for effecting a directional .reaction upon said body in. the plane of rotation thereof in response to the discharge of working fluid from said discharge opening, and means for changing the direction of said reaction about said axis.

3. A direct reaction engine comprising a body having an axis of rotation, a support for said body having a bearing, said bearing being adapted to permit the rotation of said body on said axis, means for discharging working fluid from said body in tangential relation to a-portion thereof for rotating said body upon said axis, means for heating said working fluid in said body, a valve associated with saldsupport forcontrolling the discharge of said working fluid by said dissaid valve embracing means for 23 efiecting the continuous discharge of working fluid by said discharge means and means for cyclically varying between maximum and minimum discharge rates at diametrically opposed azimuth points the discharge of working fluid throughout each cycle of rotation of said body.

a. A direct reaction engine comprising body having an axis of rotation, a support for said body having a be ring, said bearing being adapted to permit the rotation of said body on said axis, means for discharging working fluid from said body in tangential relation to a portion thereof for rotating said body upon said axis, means for heating said working fiuid in said body, a valve associated with said support for controlling the discharge of said working fluid by said discharge means, said valve embracing means for effecting the continuous discharge of working fluid by said discharge means, and means for rotating said valve with respect to said support for changing the direction of translation of said body.

5. A direct reaction rotary translation engine comprising a body mounted for rotation about an axis, means for supporting said body for rotary and translatory motion in the plane of rotation of said body, a chamber associated with said body and having an exhaust passage leading from said body for discharging working fluid from said chamber in tangential relation to said body for rotating said body by direct reaction about said axis, means for supplying working fluid to said chamber in quantities sufficient to rotate said body about said axis control means including relatively rotatable means and disposed internally of said body and controlling said working fluid within said chamber to unequally discharge said working fluid through said exhaust passage on opposite sides of said axis and at the same azimuth points throughout successive revolutions of said body for applying directionally unbalanced rotational forces to said body for translating said body in the plane of rotation of said body, and means for varying the difierence between said unequally discharged working fluid for varying the translatory force efiecting said body.

6. A direct reaction rotary translation engine comprising a body mounted for rotation about an axis, means for supporting said body for rotary and translatory motion in the plane of rotation of said body, a chamber associated with said body and having an exhaust passage leading from said body for discharging working fluid from said body in tangential relation to said body for rotating said body by direct reaction about said axis, means for supplying working fluid to said chamher in quantities sufficient to rotate said body about said axis, relatively rotatable means for unequally discharging said working fluid through said exhaust passage on opposite sides of said axis and at the same azimuth points throughout successive revolutions of said body for applying directionally unbalanced rotational forces to said body for translating said body in the plane of rotation of said body, means for varying the difference between said unequally discharged working fluid for varying the translatory force efiecting said body, and means for changing the azimuth relation of said azimuth points about said axis of said body and with respect to said supporting means for changing the direction of translation of said body.

7. A direct reaction engine comprising a self rotatable body having atmospheric air inlet and tangently directed exhaust opening means formed therein, said inlet and exhaust opening means having continuous working substance confining passage means extending therebetween, direct reaction, fuel burning, power generating means operatively disposed wholly within said body and in said continuous working substance passage means, said passage means comprising an air compressor supplied with air through said inlet and operable for increasing the pressure of such air and supplying the same under increased pressure for combustion to said power generating means, said power generating means being operable to generate and discharge working substance through said exhaust opening means so as to provide the requisite motive power for rotating and translating said body by direct reaction at all times during operation of the en ine, and cyclic control means having different positions relative to the rotation of said exhaust opening means and being operable for effecting translation of said body in the plane of rotation of said body, said cyclic control means in one of said positions being operable to vary the discharge of all of said working substance discharged by said exhaust opening means during each revolution of said body to discharge said substance successively through all of said exhaust opening means at the same rates on the same sides of a plane through the axis of rotation of said body but at different rates on opposite sides of said plane and throughout successive revolutions of said body and the operating range of speeds and loads for said engine.

8. A direct reaction engine comprising a sell rotatable body having inlet and tangently directed exhaust opening means formed therein, said inlet and exhaust opening means having continuous working substance confining passage means extending therebetween, direct reaction, fuel burning, power generating means operatively disposed wholly within said body and in said continuous working substance passage means, said passage means comprising an air compressor supplied with air through said inlet and operable {or increasing the pressure of such air and supplying the same under increased pressure for combustion to said power generating means, said power generating means being operable to generate and discharge working substance through said exhaust opening means so as to provide the requisite motive power for rotating said translating said body by direct reaction at all times during operation of the engine, said direct reaction means including means for heating said working substance throughout the greater part of each revolution of said body, and cyclic control means having different positions relative to the rotation of said exhaust opening means and being operable for effecting translation of said body in the plane of rotation of said body, said cyclic control means in one of said positions being operable to vary the discharge of said working substance during each revolution of said body to discharge said substance successively through all of said exhaust opening means at the same rates on the same sides of a plane through the axis of rotation of said body but at different rates on opposite sides of said plane and throughout successive revolutions of said body and the operating range of speeds and loads for said engine.

9. A direct reaction engine comprising a rotatable body having inlet and tangently directed exhaust opening means formed therein, said inlet and exhaust opening means having continu- 25 ous working substance confining passage means extending therebetween, direct reaction means operatively disposed in said continuous passage means and being operable to discharge working substance through said exhaust opening means for rotating said body, heating means for said direct reaction means, means for operating said heating means for heating said working substance throughout successive and complete revolutions of said body, and cyclic control means having different positions relative to the rotation of said exhaust opening means and being operable for effecting translation of said body in the plane of rotation of said body, said cyclic control means in one of said positions being operable to vary the heating of said working substance in said direct reaction means during each revolution of said body to heat said direct reaction means at the same rates on the same sides of a plane through the axis of rotation of said body but at different rates on opposite sides of said plane and throughout successive revolutions of said body and the operating range of speeds and loads for said engine.

10.A direct reaction rotary translation engine comprising a rotatable body which at all times during the operation of the engine is rotated and translated by power generated within the body and having tangently directedexhaust opening means formed therein, thrust developing means disposed wholly within said body and operable for rotating said body to generate working substance at a distance from the axis of rotation of said body and to discharge said working substance through said exhaust opening means at rates changing with the rotation of said body to provide by direct reaction and in the plane of rotation of said body the rotary and translatory thrust required to rotate and translate said body at uniform rates and throughout .a complete ran e of loads and speeds for said engine, and cyclic control means for said thrust developing means and being operable for effecting translation of said body, said cyclic control means being operable in timed relation to the rotation of said body to control the discharge of said working substance by said exhaust open-ing means to vary the thrust developed by said thrust developing means to provide different thrusts on opposite sides but the same thrust on the same side of the of rotation of said body and throughout successive revolutions of said body and said complete range of loads and speeds for said engine.

11. A direct reaction engine as defined in claim 10 and in which said thrust developing means comprises ram jet combustor means having inlet opening means for said working substance leading said exhaust opening means in the orbit of rotation of said exhaust opening means, said inlet opening means and said exhaust opening means being connected to one another by passage means extending therebetween along the orbit of said exhaust opening means.

1' A direct reaction engine as defined by claim 10 and in which said thrust developing means comprises pulse jet means extending along the orbit of said exhaust opening means and having inlet opening means leading to said exhaust opening means, said inlet opening means being provided with intermittently operable shutter means for admitting working substance to said pulse jet means.

13. A direct reaction engine as defined by claim 10 and in which said thrust developing means comprises chamber means extending along the orbit of said exhaust opening means and having inlet opening means leading said exhaust opening means, said inlet means being provided with centrally disposed valve body means forming annular inlet opening means within said inlet opening means, said body means being of streamlined formation and projecting forwardly within said inlet opening means.

14. A direct reaction engine comprising a rotatable body which at all times during the operation of the engine is rotated by power generated within the body and having tangently directed exhaust opening means, direct reaction means operatively disposed wholly within and rotatable with said body, said direct reaction means bein arranged and operable to generate working substance at a distance from the axis of rotation of said body and to discharge said working substance through said exhaust opening means at rates per revolution great enough to provide the requisite motive power for rotating and translating said body by direct reaction at all times during operation of the engine in the plane of rotation of .said body and throughout an operating range of speeds and loads for said engine, cyclic control means having different positions relative to the rotation .of said exhaust opening means, said cyclic control means in one of said positions being adapted to vary the discharge of said substance through said exhaust opening means during each revolution of said body to discharge said substance successively through all of said exhaust opening means at the same rates on the same sides of a plane parallel to the direction of translation of said body and through the axis of rotation .of said body but at different rates on opposite sides of said plane and through out successive revolutions of said body and said operating range of speeds and loads for said engine, said direct reaction means including means for heating said working substance on opposite sides of said plane through said axis.

15. A direct reaction engine comprising a rotatable body which at all times during the opera tion of the engine is rotated by power generated within the body and having tangently directed exhaust opening means formed therein, power generating means wholly within and rotatable with said body and operable throughout successive and complete revolutions of said body and having the capacity to discharge a working substance from said opening means at rates per revolutions great enough to provide the requisite motive power for rotating and translating said body in the plane of rotation of said body and throughout an operating range of speeds and loads for said engine, and cyclic control means adjacent the axis of said body and having different positions relative to the rotation of said opening means, said cyclic control means in one of said positions being operable to vary the power developed by said power generating means during each revolution of said body to discharge said substance successively through all of said opening means at the same rates on the same sides of a plane through the axis of rotation of said body but at different rates on opposite sides of said plane and throughout successive revolutions of said body and said operating range of speeds and loads of said engine.

16. A direct reaction rotary translation device comprising a body mounted for rotation about an axis, means for supporting said body for rotary and translatory motion in the plane of rotation of said body, a chamber associated with said body and having an exhaust passage disposed in tangential relation to and in the plane of rotation of said body and terminating at a trailing edge of said body in an exhaust opening formed and positioned to discharge a working substance from said body in the plane of rotation of said body for rotating and translating said body, said exhaust passage and said opening being uniformly disposed and positioned relative to said body and said exhaust opening having the same area, throughout successive and complete revolutions of said body and the rotation and translation thereof, means operable for supplying working substance to said chamber in quantities sufficient to provide the requiste motive power for rotating and translating said body by direct reaction and in the plane of rotation of said body, and translation control means disposed wholly within said body and out of the slip stream around said body and exhaust passage and controlling said working substance discharged by said exhaust passage to unequally discharge said working substance on opposite sides of said axis and to similarly discharge said working substance at the same azimuth points throughout successive revolutions of said body.

17. A direct reaction rotary translation device as defined by claim 16 and in which means is provided for moving a part of the translation control means with respect to said supporting means for changing the direction of the translatory thrust resulting from the discharge of said working substance from said body.

18. A direct reaction rotary translation device comprising a body mounted for rotation about an axis, means for supporting said body for rotary and translatory motion in the plane of rotation of said body, a chamber associated with said body and having an exhaust passage leading from said body for discharging working fluid from said body in tangential relation to said body for rotating said body by direct reaction about said axis, means for supplying working fluid to said chamber in quantities sufficient to rotate said body about said axis, relatively rotatable control means for unequally discharging said working fluid through said exhaust passage on opposite sides of said axis and at the same azimuth points throughout successive revolutions of said body to effect the translation of said body in the plane of rotation of said body, and means for chang- 28 ing the'setting of said control means with respect to'said supporting means so as to shift the discharge cycle of said working fluid for changing the direction of translation of said body.

19. A rotary translation engine comprising a rotatable body, power generating means within and rotatable with said body and having tangently directed thrust applying means disposed in said body at a distance from the axis of rotation of said body and operable by said power generating means to apply to said body the total thrust required to rotate said body and to continue the rotation of said body at a uniform rate throughout successive revolutions of said body, cyclic control means having an operative position for controlling said thrust applied to said body to apply said thrust to a greater extent on one side than on the opposite side of the axis of rotation of said body and to the same extent on the same side of the axis of rotation of said body throughout successive revolutions of said body, said power generating means and said thrust applying means being operable by said cyclic control means in said position to apply to said body in a plane intersecting the axis of rotation of said body the total thrust required to translate said body and to continue the translation of said body at a uniform rate throughout successive revolutions of said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,021,521 Hroult Mar. 26, 1912 1,305,340 Bostedo June 3, 1919 1,375,601 Morize Apr. 19, 1921, 1,643,862 Travnicek Sept. 27, 1927 1,819,863 Bleecker Aug. 18,1931 1,854,615 Lasley Apr. 19, 1932 1,932,702 Langdon Oct. 31, 1933 1,982,969 Stalker Dec. 4, 1934 2,045,623 Wilford June 30, 1936 2,108,839 Wilford et al Eeb. 22, 1938 2,220,066 Cornell Nov. 5, 1940 2,335,005 Gieskieng et al Nov. 23, 1943 2,371,687 Gerhardt Mar. 20, 1945 2,397,357 Kundig Mar. 26, 1946 2,457,936 Stalker Jan. 4, 1949 2,462,587 Wilcox Feb. 22, 1949 2,514,749 Dobbins July 11, 1950 

